The Hockey Field

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 10, 11 July 1936, Page 23

The Hockey Field

(By "Sticks.") . POSITION UNCHANGED

GROUNDS PROVE A HANDICAP

As a result of la?.t Saturday's matches the position in the senior A championship. remains unaltered, Huia still having a two-point lead. At Karori Park games were not of a high standard owing to the greasy nature of the ground. Also, the grounds were cut up considerably by' the lower-grade matches, and short passing was put of the question. Unfortunately this position has obtained in the past, and senior players will welcome the time when the W.H.A. is in a position to set aside areas for senior A games only. Conditions at Naenae were much better fortunately, and; the standard set there was reasonably good. The spectators on the sideline of the No. 1 ground were given an interesting exposition of defensive play, the team formation adopted by both University and Hutt giving the backs too great an ascendancy over the forwards. The other game played at Naenae between Karori B and Technical illustrated how the fortunes of play can fluctuate, each team gaining the upper hand in turn, although the Karori players gained the decision. Despite their handicap of only having eight-men on. the fieldfor most of the game, Wellington put up a creditable showing against Karori A. Their goalkeeper, Sharratt, played a splendid game, the KaTori foiwards finding if very difficult to get past him. • :Huia's comfortable win over Wesley was due largely to their better combination and steadier stick w.ork. • .'• ">.";.:": v •

■Requisite strength 'and accuracy form, necessary to- these passes, otherwise they will nOt ; prove effective. A, fast nimble set of;forwards, if resolutely opposed by a\ heavy defence may leave' the same defence at sixes and sevens; if... given; "through passes" by the forwards, themselves or the halfbacks. Fast wingers will prove more Tjseful to a side if--fed by ' "through passes"'than otherwise, as these passes will'give them' full- scope for their speedy runs. ' •" ■ " • , ■;■ ■•.••■•■•■

These passes are made generally by "nlace" or '"scoop" .shots... Hits . can easily be anticipated by the: opposing defence.' . . ' .

Changing ,the Game:-1 am a, great believer in this tactical.move of the fame, duties of which fall, very naturUy more upon a centre-forward or a centre-half than upon others; by virtue of their playing in the central positions, and thus giving; passes '.oh' both sides m6re_ easily than the rest ofthe team. A ball coming to a centre-for-ward from his right side,-if -passed back to the same side, would'find the opposing defence fully alive to the situation, while, if passed to' the' left side there is a possibility, of finding the defence on chis side not. so alert as in the former case. It may n6t be inferred that a centre-forward <yr a centrehalf ■ should invariably pass a ball received from right side to left side or vice versa,'but it is up tn him to decide the change under She circumstances.

Attacks should be as varied in their nature'as; possible, and changing the game is only one of the variations. No rules can be laid down for its observance or non : observance, except a hint that this move as well as all tactical moves in hockey depends on the;way it is executed and the time taken in the execution.—M. N. Masud. ..